The Difference Between Single and Dual Processor Servers

The server’s Central Processing Unit, also known as the CPU, is the server’s actual CPU. Processing data, instructions, and operations is the primary role of the central processing unit (CPU) in a server. With a more powerful central processing unit, servers, which play an important role in networks, can achieve the high throughput of a large data volume, super stability, and long-term operation.

One-way servers, two-way servers, four-way servers, and eight-way servers are the most common classifications of servers based on the number of physical CPUs they contain. The single and dual CPU servers will take up this article’s attention.

What Is a Single CPU Server?

A server with a single CPU is a single-socket server, which means that there is only one socket for a CPU on the motherboard; consequently, only one CPU is active on the server at any given time. Consequently, compared to servers with multiple processors, a server with a single CPU has lower consumption, fewer cooling systems requirements, and lower costs for the necessary hardware.

In addition, a server with a single CPU is more cost-effective than one with multiple cores because the cost of the server rises proportionately with the number of cores. Additionally, the prices of software licenses have been reduced. The most significant drawback of single-CPU servers is that they do not have sufficient memory capacity.

What Is a Dual CPU Server?

Dual CPU server is also called as dual processors servers as it is featured with two CPU sockets on the motherboard. This Dual-processor servers are functional servers because they use two processors at once. To be very clear, dual-core servers install two CPU cores on a single CPU, whereas a dual processor motherboard has two slots for CPU cards. As a rule, dual-CPU servers are more powerful and reliable than single-CPU servers. The catch is that they also come with a higher price tag.

Single CPU Server vs. Dual CPU Server

Single and dual CPU servers are fundamental server types frequently compared in various aspects, including server RAM, performance, use case, etc.

Performance

Most of the time, servers with more CPUs perform better than servers with only one CPU. This is because dual CPU servers come with many PCI lanes, two separate sets of cache, and two sets of RAM slots, all of which are associated with increased performance.

In addition, because dual processor servers utilise two different CPU threads simultaneously, their overall performance is significantly superior to that of single-processor servers, which only use a single thread.

However, according to the results of some tests, dual-CPU servers perform marginally better than single-CPU servers with the same number of cores and clock speeds on each chip. This advantage is particularly noticeable when both CPUs simultaneously process the same data.

Most of the time, servers with more than one CPU will significantly increase performance when the workload is maximised, particularly when the CPU is engaged in labor-intensive multi threaded activities. They can do this due to their ability to abstract assets into virtual servers.

Due to the increased stability and performance that they offer, dual-processor servers are the best option for settings that are limited in terms of physical space.

Use Case

The use cases of the two different kinds of servers are just as varied as the circumstances in which they are used.

Servers with a single central processing unit Recent developments in CPU technology have made it possible for servers with a single processor to manage demanding workloads. Building general-purpose application servers on low-end servers with a single CPU can be very cost-effective, especially for smaller businesses.

In addition, servers with a single CPU can be utilised for online stores with a medium capacity or large websites, where they can function as collaborative servers to facilitate data flow between various departments.

Dual-processor servers: These servers come with excellent processor chips and are suitable for any use scenario in a business setting. However, the vast majority of the time, these systems are selected by large businesses for use in high-end computing applications.

Dual processor servers typically utilised for scientific high-precision computing and simulations, high-performance computing (HPC) deployment, and other similar applications can supply more computing power than single processor servers.

Server RAM

The amount of server RAM available varies significantly between single- and dual-processor servers. Dual-processor servers typically have twice as much RAM available as single-processor servers. But servers with a single CPU have more options available to them when it comes to selecting RAMs.

Either error-correcting code (ECC) or non-ECC memory can be used in Intel-based single-processor servers. FB-DIMM ECC memory is the only type used in servers with two processors. Aside from that, servers with a single CPU on an AMD platform support ECC, non-ECC, and Registered ECC RAM, whereas servers with two CPUs support only Registered ECC RAM.

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Conclusion

In conclusion, even though servers with a single CPU are less expensive, they cannot compete with servers with a dual CPU in terms of performance and stability. Businesses need to make appropriate decisions for their needs and how servers will be used.